This Saturday, 2016 presidential hopefuls will descend upon Des Moines to attend the first-ever Iowa Agriculture Summit. Hosted by Big Ag operator Bruce Rastetter, the summit promises to be a conversation about “modern agriculture,” including topics like renewable fuels, biosciences, GMOs, grain and livestock markets, and more. Rastetter will speak one-on-one with each potential candidate, allowing no questions from the audience.
While the idea of an agriculture summit is a good one, it’s likely that the conversation at this summit will focus on furthering the interests of corporate agriculture.
Family farmers know that feeding all of us — not corporate interests — should be the focus of farm policy and the food systems throughout our country. And we here at Farm Aid agree: people, not profits, should come first.
That’s why our long-time partner Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI) has planned a separate summit to counter the message of corporate agriculture. This weekend, at The Food and Ag Justice Summit, I will join family farmers, local community advocates and national allies to talk about a vision of agriculture that works for people and for the planet.
We invite you to join us for a powerful day of elevating a People and Planet First Agenda that puts family farmers, and all of us who eat, before corporate greed.
Friday March 6
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Food, Fun, & Fight Back
Iowa CCI Headquarters, 2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines
Saturday March 7
7:00 am – 11:00 am
Food and Ag Justice Speak Out
Elwell Family Food Center, Iowa State Fairgrounds
3000 E. Grand Ave, Des Moines
11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Food and Ag Justice Teach In
Simpson United Methodist Church
2600 Capitol Ave, Des Moines
Learn about speakers at the summit here and click here to register.
We hope you’ll join us in Des Moines to support a vision of agriculture that puts family farmers, good food, and a fair and just food system first.
